Heel covering machine



May 7, 1935. w. P. DEVINE HEEL COVERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed July. 22, 1930 May 7, 1935. w. P DEVINE HEEL COVERINGMACHINE Original Filed July 22, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7, 1935. w. P.DEVINE HEEL COVERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 22,1930 May 7, 1935. w. P. DEVINE HEEL COVERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 PDevi/7w. I

Original Filed July 22. 1930 men/(707 dz/71212770 by -06;

' may.

y 1935- V w. P. DEVINE 2,000,128

HEEL COVERING MACHINE I I Original Filed July 22, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5H/ w f; f z 5 g fi 4M 1/ if 1 .17,

I 4/ v[77 1%?0C r Patented May 7, 1935 PATENT OFFICE HEEL COVERINGMACHINE William .P. D,evine, Dorchester, Mass, assignor to United ShoeMachinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J.,.a cor,pora'tion of New JerseyApplication July22, 1930, Serial No. 469,752

Renewed July 3, 1933 47 Claims.

This invention relates to machines forqapplying sheet material such ascelluloid, leather, fabric, or the like, to the outer faceof a boat orshoe heel, the invention being illustrated as-embodied in a machine forfolding the edges of the material over the tread of the heel, the top ofthe heel and the-breast of the-heel, as well asto applyit to the outerface of the heel.

The invention is exemplified withreference to an apparatus or machinesuch as hereinafter set forth in the specification and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The illustrated machineis provided with mechanism including an improvedresilient member for quickly :and effectively wrapping the sheetmaterial or cover around the outer face of the heel and folding it overthe edges of the heel .as particularly set forth in the specificationand pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevationof the illustrated -heel covering machine; e

Fig. 2 is a seotional-elevationof the machine taken on line 22, Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, of the machine taken on line3-.3, Fig. 2, parts :of the machine being broken away to save space in.the

drawings;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 41- 5, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalelevation taken on line 55, Fig. 3; I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of thecover gauges;

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation taken on'linel-l, Fig. 3, illustratingtheheel in-position for the back portion thereof to contact withthecover blank;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation similarto Fig. 7 illustrating the'heelforced part way-down during the covering operation thereof; 7

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation similar to Figs. 7 and 8 illustratingthe heel in its lowermost position after the cover has been applied tothe outer face and folded over the edges thereof;

Fig. 10 is a plan vie-w of a portion of aband with an elastic padsuperimposed thereon and with a heel cover shown in position thereon indotted lines;

Fig. ll is a transverseseetion of the .band and pad taken on line i iiI, Fig. 10, a heel supported by the pad being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sect ion taken on line 42-52 of Fig. 10;

'Fig. 13 is a transverse section of a .band witha modified form ofelastic pad thereon;

:thereon 'upon these rolls.

Fig. 1% is 'a transverse sectionof a band-with another modified form ofpad superimposed Fig. 15 is a transverse section of a band with stillanothermodified form of elastic pad super- 15 imposed thereon; I

"Fig. 16 isa planview'ofa heel cover; and

Fig. 17 is a detail :plan, view of an'altern'ative form of frictionroller.

In the drawings (Figs. '1, 2, and '3) I5 is the ;1'.0 frame oftheillustratedmachine and 16 is a band of flexible material, preferablyelastic. Theop: posite ends of the band are clamped between clamp platesH and i8 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are fastened to slides I9 and 20, saidslides being 15 'slidably mounted on the frame of the machine. Theoppositesides of the band are preferably left .free. The slides 59 and29 are oppositely 'disposed and'arespaced apart. at 2 I. Rocker plates.22 and 23 are pivoted by means of studs 24 and {20 to the adjacent endsof the slides 19 and 2-0 respectivelyand the adjacent faces 22 and .23

of said rocker plates normally converge toward the rear edge of the bandl6 as illustrated in Fig.4, the pivotal studs 24 and 25 being located.25

approximately between the front and rear ends of the rocker plates 22and 23-or midway'between the sides of the slides 19 and 20 and of thesides of the band it.

Anti-friction rolls 26 and 21 are rotatably .30. I

mounted in the upper inner corners-of the rocker plates 22 and 23 andthe band 16 normally ,rests The rolls 2% and 21 normally converge towardthe-rear'edge of the band 1 Band are parallel to the inclined innerfaces 22' and l23of the rocker plates 22 and Z3. 1 a 1 A pad 28 ofresilient or elastic material is -positioned upon the hand-l6. It isfastened thereto preferably in the central portion thereof as-at 29,Fig. 11. This form of pad, as illustrated-in 540 Fig. 11, consists oftwo layersof elastic material .30 .and .3I, these two layers beingjoined together at 29' in the central portion thereof. -Inthe upper face:ofthe elastic pad 28 thereare provided two arcuate grooves land I)which extend from .45.

one end 0 of the elastic pad to the other end .d thereof. A portion 1 ofthe pad bounded by the grooves a and b and the ends 0 and dformsapproximately the contour of the development of the outer face of ashoe heel, and a transverse 5 section of the pad E0 in Fig. 11, oranywhere between the ends 0 and d of the pad is convexly curved on itsupper surface. The upper faces of the inner portion gand the outerportion 'hfof the pad are preferably approximately in the same plane asthe top of the convexed portion 1. The outer portions or edge portionsof the pad 20 are preferably not attached to the band I6.

In Fig. 10 a cover 40 is shown in dotted lines positioned and in Fig. 11in full lines in correct position relatively to the pad, to be appliedto the outer face of a heel.

The movement of the slides I9 and 20 toward each other is limited byscrews 32 and 33 respectively, these screws abutting against the framewhen the slides are closest together. The movement of the slides awayfrom each other is limited by studs 34 and 35 which have screw-threadedengagement with the frame of the machine and are held in adjustedposition by set screws 36 and 31. The screws 32 and 33 havescrewthreaded engagement with the slides I9 and 20 respectively and areheld in adjusted position by lock nuts 38 and 39.

The cover 40 is of sheet material, celluloid, leather, fabric, or anymaterial with which it is desired to cover the outer face of the heel.The said cover is placed by the operator on the pad 28, as particularlyillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,

'andthe said cover has a curvilinear top edge 4|,

a curvilinear bottom edge 42 and converging end edges 43 and 44. Inorder to enable the operator to place the cover 40 in correct positionupon the pad 28 gauge fingers 45 and 46 are provided. These gaugefingers and the gauge blocks 41 and 48 upon which they are supported areduplicates, except that one is right handed and the other left handed,so that a description of one will equally well apply to the other.

Referring to the gauge finger 46, therefore, and to Figs. 3, 4 and 6.Said gauge finger consists of an angle piece having a vertical flange 49and a horizontal flange 50 with a stop 5I extending :downwardly from anarm 52 which is fast to or integral with the vertical flange 49. Thevertical flange 49 converges toward the rear edge of the band I6. Thehorizontal flange 50 extends rearwardly at 53 beneath the gauge block 48and is pivotally mounted thereon by means of a stud 54 diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 6 and also illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The stud 54has screw-threaded engagement with the block 48 and is located beneaththe same. Between the head of the stud 54 and the portion 53 of thegauge finger a friction washer 55 is interposed, so that by' adjustingthe stud 54, more or less friction may be applied to the portion 53 ofthe gauge finger to regulate the difiiculty or case with which the feedfinger 46 may be moved or swiveled upon said stud 54, thus enabling thesaid feed finger to be positioned to engage different sizes or shapes ofheel covers.

The gauge blocks 41 and 48 are slidably mounted upon a cross bar 56,Figs. 1, 2 and 3, fast to an arm 58 and said gauge blocks may-beadjusted toward or away from each other by a right and left threadedscrew 51 mounted upon the arm 58 which is clamped to a standard 59 by ascrew 60. The standard 59, see Fig. 5, is provided with flanges BIadjustably mounted in a slot 62 provided in a slide 63 and is fastenedor clamped to the slide 63 by means of a screw 64, so that the standard59 can be adjusted toward or away from the band I6 and then set in anadjusted position relatively thereto, by means of the screw 64. Whenthestandard 59 is thus adjusted, the arm 58, screw 51, cross bar 56,gauge blocks 41 and 48 and gauge fingers 45 and 46 willbe likewiseadjusted relatively to the band I 6.

The slide 63 slides in ways 65 provided in a plate 66 which is fastenedby screws 61 to a bracket 68, the bracket 68 being rigidly fastened tothe frame I5 and forming in effect a portion thereof. A spring 69 isfastened at one end thereof to a pin I0, Fig. 2, which is fastened tothe plate 66 and at the other end to a pin 'II fast to the slide 63,this spring tending normally to hold the slide 63, with its partssupported thereon, in

its forward position. The slide 63, with the parts mounted thereon, may,however, be automatically moved rearwardly or toward the right, Fig. 2,by a member I2 which has an inclined lower edge I3 adapted to engage theinner face of the rear wall 14 of the slide 63, the said slide beingprovided with a slot 15 into which the member I2 projects during adownward movement. The member I2 projects downwardly from a slide I6slidably mounted in ways 11 on the frame of the machine.

A vertical reciprocatory motion is imparted to the slide 16 by a leverI8 which is pivoted at 19 to the frame of the machine and has a rockingmotion imparted thereto by suitable mechanism not shown in the drawings.The forward end of the lever 18 is arcuate shaped at and 8| and thesearcuate portions bear against the lower face 82 of an arm 83 whichprojects rearwardly from the slide I6 and the arcuate edge 8I of saidlever bears against a face 84 on an arm 85 extending rearwardly fromsaid slide I6, so that a rocking movement of the lever I8 imparts areciprocatory vertical movement to the slide I6. On the front of theslide I8 is fastened a bracket 86 which has integral therewith aforwardly extending arm 8'! and a laterally extending arm 88 and anotherlate'rally extending arm 89 on the outer end of the arm 81. The arm 88has a presser 90 adjustably attached thereto by a shank 9I bifurcated atits lower end to receive an ear 92 on the presser 90, said ear beingpivotally mounted upon the bifurcated portion of the shank 9| by apivotal pin 93.

The shank 9I is adjustable vertically in the arm 88 and is clampedthereto by a screw 94.

The arm 89 hasa vertical rod 95 slidably mounted therein and held infrictional engagement therewith by a friction pin 96 and screw 9'! witha spring 98 interposed between the screw 91 and the friction pin 96. Aside gauge 99 for the heel has screw-threaded engagement with the lowerend of the rod 95, the said rod being split so that the gauge can beclamped thereto by means of a clamp screw I00 and the said gauge isfurther locked in position in the lower end of the rod 95 by a nut IOI.A vertical reciprocatory movement is imparted to the rod 95 by themovement of the plunger slide I6 and the bracket 81 forming in eifect aportion thereof, and by the arm 89.

The distance to which the rod 95 can be moved upwardly or downwardlyislimited by a pair of collars I02 and I03 which are clamped to the rod 95by screws I04 and I05 respectively, so that as the slide I6 movesupwardly, the rod 95 and the gauge 99 at the lower end thereof will movewith it until the collar I03 engages the underside of an arm I06 fast tothe frame of the machine and projecting between the collars I02 and I03,the rod 95 having sliding movement in the outer end of said arm I06. Themovement of the rod 95 downwardly is limited by the collar I02. Whensaid collar strikes the arm I06 the downward movement of the rod 95 willstop and the arm 89 on the bracket 86 will slide on the said rod 95,thus a limited upward movement and a limited downward movement isimparted to the rod 95 with itsaside.gaugefifixbythe. reciprocatmymovement of the slide FIB- tended at its lower end .toiiorm 1a.contactmember M having an inclined inner-edge -lfl .-l=which is adaptedto bear against and position a :heelzl -l 2 when the said heel isp'lacedthereagainst. by the operator, the inclined edge Hi1 bearing against thetop of the heel. 'IIhebreast ofthe heel is positioned :bya contactmember lzt3whichis pivoted :at H ltoastud .M 5 whichis clamped to theplunger member 1082by a clamp screw M6. The contact member H3 isthereforewadjustable up and down and it also tips on the pivot I I4toazcon-form to varying angles of the breast and top. of "the heel witheach other, and byadjusting the clamp member H3 up and down'differentthicknesses of heels from front to back may be accommodated, sothat-when the plunger arrives at its lowermost point, the rear portionof the outer face of the heel will be at the same level independent ofthe form orsize of the heel. When the heel is positioned by theoperatorwith the top in engagement with the edge 'H I ofth'e contact member H0of the plunger 1508 and with its breast in engagement with thecontactmember H3, the :side of the heel zbearsagainst a flange-99. onthe side of thegauge Beneath the band 16 and positioned out of alignmentwith the. upper edge of the 'heelwhich is to be covered there is.provided an edge-folder ll l which has a shank I1 8extendingdownwardlytheretrom and supported in .an adjustable arm I ilflyt he arm |'-|.'9beingslidableinwardlyandoutwardly within a bracket 12!! which projectsupwardly from the base l-2; l.-of the machine frame, and the arm H19-islocked in adjusted position hymeans of'aset screw [22. The upperedgeI23 :of the folder H7! is curved .and the rear face of said folder isconcaved-yat L124, thewsaid' folder being adjusted in proper positionrelatively to the heel which is being coveredso asto fold the upper edgeat. the rear of the heel inwardly over the upper rear edge of the 'heelwhen the saidheel is moved downwardly as. hereinafter described. Anelastic cushion 1:25 is 'mounted'. upon a support 125 which, in turn;"is fastened to the frame 'of the machine, saidelastic'cushion being in:align-' ment with the presser 90.

In Fig. 13 an elastic pad :1 211 aisillustratedattached-to the band andhaving recessed portions I28 provided in the und'erface thereof.

In Fig. 14 another form-of elastic pad M9 .is illustrated in which theupper layer I :is provided withrecesses I3 I "in its .underface, thesame being joined toa lowerlayer 132 by adhesive in the central portionthereof, the slayer 182. being attached to the band -Hiby adhesiveinthe. central portion thereof. a

In Fig. 15 another modification 7| 3810f an elastic pad is illustratedattachedto the-"band 1.6 by adhesive, this elastic pad 138 having aconvex upper surface taken transversely thereof.

In Fig. 1'7 another form-of anti-friction. roller 26 is illustratedwhich is 'adaptedto he used instead of the rollers 25 and 21, .4,thesame being tapered from the central portion thereof to the ends.

In order that different :bands 15 may becused' upon the machine and oneireadilywsubstituted .=aznoi1heraas,3ior examnle,.zif .thezband becomesI hand I26 should be easily and :quickly removed.

"and anotherahand l5 ainsertedinits place and .-for this reason thejends of the band, .as hereinhefore stated, .are clamped between clampplates, sl fl and 18, see Figs. ;3. and .4. These clamp plates arefastened together .by. screws A33 and the .clamp plate 11 ispnovided-withatongne I34 which'projeetsinte a groove 1.35, the saidtongue andgroove extending transversely of the band [6 andclamp the endof the :band .therebetween. The clamp platesfill and 1l8 thus clampedtogether and having the hand clansnped therebctween are readilyiattachedito tor detached from the slides 18 .and .2-0 by means of. pins136 and I3] which project through corresponding grooves in the clampplate 18, so that in attaching the band to 1thi *machine, one-of thepair of .iclamp plates isattached :tortheslide lflsby slipping the clampplate .18 overthev pin "l36and. .the other of the pairof clamp plates,is attached to the slidezifl by slipping the corresponding clamp plate18 over the;

pin 13-1, :the :bandlif'being preferably stretched duringthis/operation. It will .he noted thattthe clamprplatas if: and :i 8.are.thus pivotally attached to the slides Hand 2.63, so that the bandmay,if necessary,.ad.iustitself slightly to varying conditions andstressesto which-it :may'be subjected byreason or" the ends of the clampplatesattached thereto being capable of swinging or pivoting upon the.pins 535 and. 137,.

.Ihegeneral'operation of. the mechanism here inbefore specifically andto somev extent in general described, is as fo'11ows:fI'he operator:hav- ,iug firsteapplied adhesive to the, cover 40 and to the outer faceof the heeLplaces the, cover with the 1adhesive:,,faoe uppermost on. thepad .28, as illustratedin Eig. 11,..in alignment withthe heel'ti-Libeing enabled so :to do. by :the gaugefingers 4'5 and-d5, the-ends.flSand M of the :cover' being ihrought to :bear against the verticalflanges .49 :on these fingersand the curved lower edge 42 of the coverbeing positioned against the stops iii-ion said gaugeiingers.flhecoverznow having been correctly positioned, the. %heel -.i l2.=isplaced .as illustrated in dotted -lines,,:Fig. 2, with its toprestingagainst the con-tact members! tflu-and its dbreastlagainst thecontact .member 11.3., with the side of the .heel. resting against the.flange 99 on the .side gauge .99. The operator while holding the heelinthisposition now rocksthe .lever 18' preferably bymeans-of a foottreadlev and con- .nections not'shown in thedrawings, to. cause theslide 5-6 .todescend until the heel engages the cover 4.9 asiillustratedin Fig. 1.1, thatis, with the upper edge of the. heel engaging thecoverdil. opposite the groove .12 .inv the .pad 28'. and with the lower edgeof the heel engaging the cover 58 opposite the groove a in the pad 23..A further downward movement of the heel causes the cover adjacenttheedge 41 to be thrust into'the groove "b and the. cover adliacent thegroove 42 to be thrustiinto the groove a theportion of the cover between:said grooves assuming therefore a concave-convex form to fit theconvex-portion of 'the pad between the grooves wand band the heel isthen in the position illustrated in Fig. 7. The operator letsgo of theheel when it arrives at the positionillustrated in Fig. 7. At this pointthe side gauge 89' will come toa stop by :reason of theacollar 4-82engaging the arm- Hi6. Further :downward movement of the heel will carrythe same away from theflange 99 of the side gauge 93 to the positionillustrated in Fig. 8. The band IE will be stretched during this portionof the operation and the edge portions of the pad 23 will be foldedupwardly around the outer face of the heel, the said edge portionsmoving out of contact with the band It during this part of the operationas illustrated in Fig. 8.

When'the band it is stretching, as aforesaid, the

pad and band being forced into the space 21 be tween the rocker plates22 and 23 will force said rocker plates and the slides 19 and 23, towhich they are pivoted, apart, and asthe band i6 is fastened at itsopposite ends to said slides, the band Will be further stretched by thismovement a part of the slides, thus bringing extra tension upon the bandand firmly and securely. wrapping the pad around the outer face of theheel, together with the cover for the heel.

The heel H2 is moved down from the position illustrated in Fig. 8 tothat illustrated in Fig. 9, andas shown in said Fig. 9 this furthermovement results in the outer edge portions of the pad 28 being foldedin over the breast. tread and top of the said heel. During this;downward movement of theheel, the rocker plates 22 and 23 will rock toassume the proper angles relatively to the heel which is being covered.it being noted that the adjacent faces of said rocker plates convergetoward the rear edge of the band l6. During the latter part of thedownward movement of the heel hereinbefore described, the band It willcome into contact with the curved upper edge 523 of the folder H? andwith the concave face Ef of said folder and will be folded,

together with the pad 28, over the rear upper edge of the heel, thusfolding the cover over said rear upper edge.

When the heel, in the downward movement hereinbefore described, arrivesat the position illustrated in Fig. 7- and the cover is'thereby clampedto the pad 28, the inclined lower edge 73 of the member 12 engages therear wall 14 of the slide 63 and moves the same rearwardly, togetherwith the standard 59, the cross bar 56, the gauge blocks 47 and 48 andtheir respective gauge fingers 5 and 48 so as to move them rearwardlyfrom above the cover prior to the molding or folding operation of thecover hereinbefore described.

The operator now releases the treadle and the lever 18 moves to theposition illustrated in Fig. 2, thus raising the slide 16 and the partsmounted thereon to the respective positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and2. Duringthis upward movement, the member I2 will release the slide 63and the spring 69 will return the gauge fingers and 46 to their originalpositions as illustrated in Fig. 3 and the side gauge will be movedupwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. 7 to the positionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 Pressure having been released upon theheelHZ. the elasticity of the band I 6 and the pad 28 will cause saidpartsto assume their normal positions illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 7,the contracting of the band l6 causing the slides l9 and 20 tomovetoward each other until the stop screws 32 and 33 engage the frame ofthe machine as illustrated in Figs. 3 and4. The operator now removes thecovered heel from the pad and band and preferably places it upon theelastic cushion I25 in a reverse position, so that upon the nextdownward movement of the slide 76 the presser 90 will engage the treadof the heel and press the top of the heel against the said elasticcushion, thus securely and completely folding and pressing the inturnededges of the cover against the top of the heel and against the bottomthereof.

It will be noted that since substantially the entire pad 28 is free tomove with respect to the members or slides l9 and 20, the pad isprogressively compressed toward its lateral edges as the cover is beingapplied to the heel. The pad 28 may, therefore, be said to flow or tocreep toward its lateral edges for tensioning the cover positionedbetween the heel and the pad progressively from the back of the heel tothe breast edges of the heel. Such movement of the pad causes the coverto be slightly tensioned as it is applied to the heel and, therefore,prevents wrinkles being formed in the cover during the heel coveringoperation.

I claim:

1. A device for applying sheet material to a heel comprising an elasticpad having a pair of arcuate grooves in its upper surface extendinglongitudinally thereof and forming a portion of a contour approximatelythat of the development of the outer surface of a shoe heel.

2. A device for applying sheet material to a heel comprising an elasticpad having a pair of arcuate grooves in its upper surface extendinglongitudinally thereof and forming together with the end edges of saidpad a contour approximately that of the development of the outer surfaceof a shoe heel.

3. A device forapplying sheet material to a heel comprising a band offlexible sheet material and a pad of elastic material extending over thecentral portion only of said band and being permanently affixed theretoat the central portion of said pad, which pad has its oppositelydisposed sides free with respect to said band.

4. A device for applying sheet material to a heel comprising a band offlexible sheet material, and a pad of elastic material formed of aplurality of layers afiixed to said band at the central portion of saidpad and having oppositely disposed sides of said pad free with'respectto said band.

5. A device for applying sheet material to a heel comprising a band offlexible sheet material, and a pad of elastic material, said pad beingformed of a plurality of layers superimposed on each other and havingrecesses therebetween, the pad being afiixed to said band at the centralportion of said .pad and having oppositely disposed sides of said padfree with respect to said band.

6. An apparatus for covering heels with sheet material having, incombination, a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends ofsaid band, a pad. of elastic material permanently affixed to said bandat its central portion while leaving its oppositely disposed sides freewith respect to said band, and means to push the entire outer rear faceof a heel against a piece of sheet. material resting against said pad.

'7. An apparatus for covering heels with sheet material having, incombination, a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends ofsaid band while leaving opposite sides of said band free, and

a pad of elastic material aflixed to said band.

8. An apparatus for covering heels with sheet material having, incombination, a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends ofsaid band, and a pad of elastic material aflixed to said band at thecentral portion of said pad and having oppositely disposed sides of saidpad free with respect to'said band.

to engage opposite ends of a cover positioned en 9. An apparatus forapplying a cover to the outer surface of a heel having in combination; aplunger, a pair of oppositely disposed slides spaced apart attheir'adjacent ends, a band of 5 flexible material positioned on said"slides and atv tached thereto, a pad of elastic material affixed tosaid band, and means to move-said-plunger toward said'band whereby theouter face of a heel positioned between said plunger and-'acoverpositioned onsaid pad may have said cover applied thereto. v

:10. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a plunger, a pair of oppositely disposed slidesspaced apart at their adjacent ends, a'band of flexible materialpositioned on said slides and attached thereto adjacent its oppositeends, a pad of elasticmaterial affixed to said band, and means to movesaid plunger toward said band whereby the outer face of a heelpositioned between said plunger and'a cover positioned on said pad, mayhave said coverapplied thereto.

'11. An apparatus'for applying a cover to the outersurface of a heelhaving, in combination, a plunger, a pair of oppositely disposed slidesa spaced'apart at their adjacent ends, 'a band of flexible materialpositioned on said slides and attached thereto, means to limitthedistance to which said slides may be moved toward each other, a pad ofelastic material afiixedto said band, and means to move said plungertoward said bandwhereby the outer face of a heelpositioned between saidplunger and a cover. positioned on said pad, may have said cover applied5 thereto.

l2. An apparatus for applying'a cover to the outer surfaceof a heelhaving, in combination, a plunger, a pair of oppositely disposed slidesspaced apart at their adjacentends, a band of flexible materialpositioned on said slides and attached thereto, means to limit thedistance to which said slides may be moved apart, a pad of elasticmaterial affixed to said :band, and means to move said plungertowardsaid band whereby the outer faceof a heel positionedbetween said plungerand a cover positioned on said pad, may have said cover applied thereto.

13. An apparatus forapplying a cover toa heel having, in combination, aband of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends of said material,

and a gauge adjacent said band-and adjustable relatively thereto,whereby said cover may be positioned on said band.

14. An apparatus for applying a cover to a heel having, in combination,a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends of saidmaterial, and a gauge embodying a pair of oppositely disposed gaugefingers projecting over and adjacent to said band, whereby said covermaybe positioned on said band.

15. An apparatus for applying a cover to a heel having, in combination,a ban'd of flexible'material, means to hold opposite ends of saidmaterial, a gauge embodying a pair of oppositely disposed gauge fingersprojecting over and adjacent to said band and adjustable relativelytoeach other and to said band.

16. An apparatus for applying a having, in combination, a band offlexible material, means to hold opposite ends of said material, andagauge embodying a-pair of oppositely disposed gauge fingers projectingover and adjacent to said band and converging toward the. rear edge ofsaid band, saidfingersbeing adapted cover to a heel said-band.

1'7. Ari-apparatus for applying a cover to a heel having, incombination, a band' of flexible disposed gauge fingersprojectingover-and adjacent to said band, whereby saidcover may be positionedonsaid band, and means to movesaid fingers out of alignment withsaid'band.

l8.'An apparatus for applying a cover to a heel having, in combination,a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends of saidmaterial, and a gauge embodying a pair of oppositely disposed pivctallymounted gauge fingers projecting over and adjacent to said band, wherebysaid cover may be positioned on said band. 19. An apparatus for applyinga cover to the outer surface of a heel having, in combination,

a plunger, a pair of oppositely disposed slides spaced apart at theiradjacent ends, a roll pivotally mounted on each of the adjacent ends fofsaid slides respectively, a band of flexible'mate rial positioned onsaid slides, and attached there'- to, a pad of elastic material affixedto said band,

and means to move said plunger toward said band, whereby the outer faceof a heel positioned between said plunger and a cover positioned on saidpad may have said cover applied thereto.

20. An apparatus for applying acover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a

plungen'aband of flexible'material in alignment with said plunger, meansto hold opposite'ends of said band, a pad of elastic material aflixed tosaid band, and means to move said plunger toward said band, whereby theouter faceof the heel positioned between said plunger and a; cover;

positioned on said padmay have said cover applied thereto.

outer surface of a heel having, in combination,

'a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends of said band,a plunger in alignment with said band, means to move said plunger towardsaid-band, acontact member on the bottom of said plunger adaptedto'engage the topof a heel, and a contact member pivotallymounted on thebottom of said plunger adapted to engage the breast of said heel.

22. An apparatus for applying a coverto the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a band of flexible material, means to holdopposite outer surface of a heel having, in combination,

a band of flexible material, means to hold op- .posite ends of saidband, a plunger in alignment with said band, means to move said plungertoward said band, a contact member on the bottom of said plunger adaptedto engage the top of a heel, a contact member on the bottom of saidplunger adapted to engage the breast of said heel,

and a gauge adapted to engage theside of a heel when thegsame ispositioned in contact said contact members. r

24.-An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface ofaheel-having,.intcombination,

2l.An apparatus for applying a cover to'the 40 t endsof said band, aplunger in alignment with a band of flexible material, means to holdopposite ends of said band, a plunger in alignment with said band, meansto move said plunger toward said band, a contact member on the bottom ofsaid plunger adapted to engage the top of a heel, a contact member onthe bottom of said plunger adapted to engage the breast of said heel,and a gauge adapted to engage the side of a heel positioned to engagesaid contact members, said gauge being slidab-ly mounted on the frame ofsaid machine and adapted to be moved toward and away from said band bysaid plunger.

'25;'An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination,

a band of flexible material, means to hold opposite ends .of said band,a plunger in alignment with said band, means to move said plunger towardsaid band, a contact member on the bottom ofv said plunger adapted toengage the top of a hee1,1a-'contact member .on the bottom of saidplunger adapted to engage the breast of said heel, a gauge adapted toengage the side of a heel positioned to engage said contact members, arodto which said gauge is fastened, said rod being slidably mounted onsaid plunger, frictional means between said rod and said plunger, an armmounted on said frame, and means on said rod adapted to engage said arm,whereby movement imparted to said rod and to said gauge may be limited.

26. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a slide, a plunger on said slide, means toimpart a vertical movement to said slide, a band of flexible material inalignment with said plunger, means to hold opposite ends of said band, apad of elastic material affixed to said band, whereby the outer face ofa heel positioned between said plunger and a cover positioned on saidpad may have said cover applied thereto, a presser fast to said plungerslide,-and an elastic cushion in alignment with said presser, whereby aheel interposed between said cushion and said presser may be subjectedto pressure.

27. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a slide, a plunger on said slide, means toimpart a vertical movement to said slide, a band of flexible material inalignment with said plunger, means to hold opposite ends of said band, apad of elastic material aflixed to said band, whereby the outer face ofthe heel positioned between said plunger and a cover positioned on saidpad may have said cover applied thereto, a presser pivotally mounted onsaid plunger slide, and an elastic cushion in alignment with saidpresser, whereby a heel interposed between said cushion and said pressermay be subjected to pressure.

28. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of aheel'having, in combination, a plunger, a band of flexible material inalignment with said plunger, means to hold opposite ends of said band, apad of elastic material aifixed to said band, means to move said plungertoward said band, whereby the outer face of a heel positioned betweensaid plunger and a cover positioned on said pad may have said coverapplied thereto, and a folder positioned beneath said band out ofalignment with the upper edge of said heel, whereby the edge of saidcover may be folded over said upper edge. I

29. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer face of a heelhaving, in combination, a plunger, a pair of oppositely disposed slidesspaced apart at their adjacent ends, a roll tapered to-' ward its endsand pivotally'mounted upon each of the adjacent ends of said slidesrespectively, a band of flexible material positioned on said slides andattached thereto, a pad of elastic material I affixed to said band, andmeans to move said plunger toward said band, whereby the outer face of aheel positioned between said plunger and a cover positioned on said padmay have said cover applied thereto.

apart on which saidelastic band rests and to which its opposite ends arefastened while leaving it free at its opposite sides, and means to causerelative movement between said plunger with the breast of a heelcontacting therewith and said band, whereby a piece of sheet materialpositioned upon said pad in predetermined position relatively to saidheel and interposed between the band and heel may be applied to saidheel and thrust into the space between said members and folded aroundthe outer face of said heel.

31. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed slides spacedapart at their adjacent ends, a band of flexible material, a pair ofclamp plates fast to each of the opposite ends of said band, and meansto detachably connect said clamp plates to saidslides.

32. An apparatus for applying a cover to the outer surface of a heelhaving, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed slides spacedapart at their adjacent ends, a band of flexible material, a pair ofclamp plates fast to each of the opposite ends of said band, and meansto pivotally attach said slides projecting through a. hole in one ofsaid clamp plates at each of the opposite ends of said bandrespectively, whereby said clamp plates are pivotally mounted upon saidslides.

34. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a, support foraheel, a pad of resilient material, means comprising a pair of membersconstructed and arranged to support the pad and to permit free movementof substantially the entire pad with respect to said members, andmechanism for causing relative movement of the support and said means toapply a cover positioned between the heel and the pad to the back of theheel and then around the sides and upon the lateral portions of thebreast face of the heel, said support and said means being constructedand arranged to compress the pad progressively along opposite sides ofthe heel and to cause the pad to flow toward its lateral edges therebyto tension the cover as the same is applied to the heel.

35. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a support for aheel, a relatively thick pad of soft elastic material for receiving acover to be applied to the heel, means for moving the support to pressthe heel against the cover supported by the pad, and means includingmembers constructed and arranged to support the pad against the pressureof the heel and to cooperate with the support in applying the coverfirst along the back of the heel and then progressively aroundopposite-sides of the heel, saidpad being constructed and arranged to bedisplaced toward its lateral portions as it is applied to the heelthereby to insure the proper tensioning of the apply a cover positionedbetween the heel and the pad first to the rear endof the heel and thenprogressively to opposite sides of the heel and finally upon the lateralportions of the breast face of the heel.

37. In a heel covering machine, a support for a heel, a resilient padprovided with a convex surface for receiving a cover which is to beapplied to the heel, means including members for supporting the pad,mechanism for moving the support and the members relatively to eachother to cause a cover supported by the pad to be wrapped around theheel, substantially the entire pad being free to flow toward its marginsupon movement of the support and the members thereby progressively totension the cover from the back of the heel to the breast of the sameand to inturn the lateral margins of the cover upon the breast of theheel as the pad is wrapped around the heel.

38. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a supportconstructed and arranged to receive a heel, a resilient pad ofsubstantial thickness, means comprising a pair of members which arearranged to support the pad and are spaced to provide a gap,substantially the entire pad being constructed and mounted for creepingmovement with respect to said means, and mech anism for moving thesupport relatively to said means to wrap a portion of a cover positionedupon the pad about the heel, said means also comprising a yielding bracefor the portion of the pad which bridges said gap and said members beingmounted for movement for cooperating with the support to distort the padand thereby to wrap other portions of the cover about the heel.

39. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a holder for a heel,a pair of members spaced from each other to provide a recess, a pad ofresilient material arranged to bridge the recess, a resilient supportfor the portion of the pad which bridges the recess, and mechanism formoving the holder to force the heel against a portion of the cover uponthe part of the pad which bridges said recess and is backed by saidresilient support to apply the cover to the back of the heel, saidmembers being mounted for movement to cooperate with the holder inapplying the cover to the sides of the heel.

40. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a support for aheel, a pair of movable members spaced to form a gap, a pad of resilientmaterial for supporting a heel cover, mechanism for moving the supportto cause the pad to enter the gap thereby to wrap the pad aroundthe heelfor applying the cover to the same, and means for yieldingly bracing theportion of the pad which bridges said gap during the cover applyingoperation, said pad being free to creep toward its lateral marginsduring the movement of the support and the members thereby progressivelyto tension the cover as it is applied to the heel.

41. A heel covering machine having, in combination,-a holder for-aheel,a pair of members ,5 spaced from each other to provide a recess, a padof resilient material arranged to bridge the recess, a resilient supportfor the portion of the pad which bridges said recess, and mechanism formoving the'holder to force the heel against the portion of the coverlocated uponthe part of the pad which bridges said recess and is backed,by said resilient supportto apply the cover to the back of the heel,said members beingmountedfor movement to cooperate with the holder inapplying the cover to the sides of the heel, substantially the entirepad being free to move relatively to the resilient support and themembers-in order to permit the pad to creep toward its lateral edgesduring the cover-applying operation therebyto stretch the cover as it isapplied to the heel in order to avoid forming wrinkles in the cover.

42. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a support for aheel, a pad of resilient material, members for supporting the pad, meansfor effecting relative movement of the support and the members to causethe pad to apply a cover positioned upon the same to the heel, and agauge arranged adjacent to the pad for positioning' the cover relativelyto the heel and to the pad, said gauge being mounted for movement toprevent interference of the same with the pad and the heel while thecover is being applied to the heel.

43. A heel covering machine having, in combination, a pad of readilycompressible material for receiving a cover to be applied to a heel, agauge projecting over and arranged adjacent to the pad for positioningthe cover with respect to the pad, a support for the heel, means forefiecting relative movement of the support and. the pad to apply thecover to the heel, and mechanism for moving the gauge away from the padto permit the cover to be applied to the heel.

44. In a heel covering machine, a resilient pad one side of which isprovided with a pair of arcuate depressions connected by a convexsurface, a support for a heel, and means for causing relative movementof the support and the pad to wrap a cover positioned between the heeland the pad around the heel.

45. A machine for operating upon shoes having, in combination, a supportfor one shoe part, a relatively thick pad of elastic material forreceiving another shoe part, means for effecting relative movement ofthe support and the pad to apply portions of one shoe part to the other,and a backing constructed and arranged to brace the pad during saidrelative movement and to cooperate with said support for causing the padto creep progressively from a portion or" initial contact of the shoeparts relatively to the first-named shoe part thereby to tension thesecond-named shoe part as it is applied to the first-named shoe part.

46. A machine for operating upon shoes having, in combination, aresilient pad of substantial thickness for receiving a flexible shoepart, spaced members, a holder for a rigid shoe part, means for movingthe holder in a predetermined path relatively to the pad, and a backingof resilient material positioned between said members and constructedand arranged yieldingly to support the pad against the pressure of therigid shoe part carried by the holder, said backing being constructedand arranged to cooperate with the holder for causing portions of theflexible shoe part to be progressively wrapped under tension around therigid shoe part, the

members being mounted for movement in paths disposed substantially atright angles to the path of movement of the holder to-cooperate with theholder for forcing the pad around other portions of the rigid shoepartthereby to cause other portions of the flexible shoe part to beprogressively Wrapped under tension around said rigid shoe part.

47. A heel-covering machine having, in combination, a supportconstructed and arranged to receive a heel, a pair of members spacedfrom each other to form a gap, a pad of resilient material constructedand arranged to bridge said gap and to support a cover in predeterminedrelation to the support, said pad having its sides free with respect tothe members, mechanism for moving the support relatively to the pad toforce the heel against the cover upon the pad and into the gap therebyto apply portions of the cover to the heel, and means for yieldinglybracing the portion of the pad which bridges said gap during the abovecover-applying operation, said members being mounted for movementrelatively to the-heel support and constructed and arranged to cooperatewith the same in applying other portions of the cover to the heel.

WILLIAM P. DEVINE.

